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Textron AirLand unveils aircraft prototype

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A prototype aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as light attack operations, has been unveiled by Textron AirLand LLC.

The Scorpion, a twin-engine jet aircraft, is now in its test phase and is scheduled to make its first flight before the end of the year, the company said.

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"We began development of the Scorpion in January 2012 with the objective to design, build and fly the world's most affordable tactical jet aircraft capable of performing lower-threat battlefield and homeland security missions," Textron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Donnelly said. "We relied on commercial best practices to develop a tactical jet platform with flexibility and capabilities found only in far more costly aircraft."

Textron AirLand is a joint venture between Textron Inc. and AirLand Enterprises LLC.

The Scorpion is suited for irregular warfare, border patrol, maritime surveillance, emergency relief, counter-narcotics and air defense operations. Textron said the Scorpion was designed with an eye towards budget constraints of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations.

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